Guide To Blogging

What It Means To Be A Blogger

The twenty-first century’s version of the diary, the web log or blog. What started as an online journal has now become one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world.

For the every day person, the chances of having any piece of work published, be it written, audio or video, is almost impossible. Most of us don’t even have the skills, imagination or the training to prepare items to the standard that most publishers require. Blogging solves that problem.

It does not matter how well or poorly you write. You are master of your own work as a blogger. If you like it, you publish. If you don’t like it, you either bin it or keep at it until you do - then you publish.

I enjoy blogging for several reasons. First, I can express myself in my own words. I don’t have to answer to a publisher. I don’t have to follow a publishers particular leaning, be it political or social. I do it my way. The second thing I like about blogging is that I can write about topics that I want to write about. The third and final aspect of blogging that appeals to me is the community of bloggers. I enjoy reading other blogs and interacting with authors. We swap hints and tips. We form networks. We even comment on each others work.

Like everything else in life, blogging has become commercialized. Advertisers see blogs as ideal vehicles to place ads. Bloggers see advertisers and advertisements as a way of funding their activities. Who wants to get published in that old fashioned book format, particularly when you have to almost sell your soul to get published in the first place when you can write to a blog and get paid. Of course payment depends on the number of visitors and the number of visitors depends on what you write. It is still your choice. You can write to whatever genre you feel comfortable with. Over time you will get a regular audience.

Blogging has become a way of passing on information and skills. Those who are qualified or skilled in a particular area are able to write fact sheets and how to blogs. Type in a topic in most search engines and you can be sure that some of the top sites listed will be blogs.

to be a blogger means having the freedom to write what you want, when you want irrespective of the training, writing skills or even the English language. Being a blogger means enjoying your writing.